Safety device for cashiers



June 19, 1931. E. KOTHE SAFETY DEVICE FOR CASHIERS Filed Jan. 23, 1933 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Zauzls Ef/ke BY 5% W g i E ATTORNEY June 19,1934. L. E KOTHE SAFETY DEVICE FOR CASHIERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.23. 1935 .m x. E

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA6IIIJ M 7/1 ENVENTOR lauw if Kafka B WW 8%:ORNEYPatented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January23,

1933, Serial No. 653,004

3 Claims. (01. 20 1.01)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a safety devicefor cashiers.

The invention has for an object the construction of a safety deviceadapted particularly to protect tellers, cashiers, employees of banks,firms, companies, concerns and financial institutions and all otherpersons handling or having charge of sums of money, payrolls,securities, valuables, jewelry or precious stones and who are exposed tothreats, armed attacks or robbery.

Furthermore the invention is adapted to safeguard any money, payrolls,securities, valuables or precious stones which the protected personsjust referred to may have or hold in their charge. Still further theinvention proposes an arrangement whereby a bullet-proof wall with agrilled and screened wicket, provided with a bullet-proof shutter,separates the teller from the public, and also various safetyarrangements used in conjunction with the wicket for closing the shutterand protecting valuables in the possession of the teller.

Furthermore, an arrangement is proposed whereby a foot rod is arrangedfor convenient depression by the tellers foot and connected for closingthe shutter.

Still further an arrangement is proposed whereby the teller normallystores the valuables within a tray which is connected with a chutedepositing into a safe, and an arrangement whereby the tray may beconveniently and quickly tilted, thus causing all valuables to slidedown a chute into a safe.

Still further the invention proposes an arrangement whereby the tray isautomatically discharged upon depression of a foot bar.

As another object of this invention an arrangement is proposed wherebythe bars or rods previously mentioned may be operated simultaneously bythe single depression of a lever.

As another object it is proposed to provide an automatic arrangementcontrollable with a trigger for causing the simultaneous depression ofsaid bars.

Furthermore the invention proposes a drawer adapted to be moved from theexterior to the interior of the wall for the transfer of money and othergoods by the public to the teller, or vice versa, and an arrangementwhereby the drawer itself serves as a shield to prevent inconvenientcommunication from the exterior to the interior.

As another object of this invention it is proposed to construct a safeadapted to receive the valuables in such a manner that they are securelyattempts of robbers to cona i O L Fig. 1 1s a fragmentary frontelevational view of a wall which separates the public from the teller.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 1 but amplified to also showthe floor beneath.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the inner side of the tellers wicket andshutter construction.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4of Fig- 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the tellers table,seen as though looking in the direction of the line 66 of Fig. 2. a

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line '7-'7of Fig. 6. I

Fig. 8 is afragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 8-8 ofFig. 2.-

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the safe per se shown open.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig.9. v

Fig. 11 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line l111of Fig. 4.

Fig. 12 is a similar view to Fig. 7, but showing a modified arrangement.The safety device according to this invention is described inconjunction with a bullet-proof wall 10 which separates the public fromthe teller. This wall is provided with a wicket 11 closed on the outsidewith a screened grille 12. On the inside of this wicket there is ashutter mechanism comprising a frame 13 and a plurality of shutterelements 14 each vertically pivotally mounted and adapted to overlapslightly in the closed position. The closed position is the one in whichall of the shutters are substantially flat extending across the wicket.The open position is clearly shown in Fig. 3 and. constitutes theposition of the shutters when they are substantially par- (Ell) 1rangement comprises several allel to each other and extended rearwardson the frame 13.

The screened grille 12 is reinforced with vertical bars 14 andhorizontal bars 15.

A means is provided for closing the shutters 14 and comprises a frame 15pivotally secured upon the rear vertical edges of the shutters 14 in amanner so that when the frame is moved laterally the shutters 14 arepivoted to the closed position. 'A cord 16 is tied upon one end of theframe 15 and extends over an idler pulley 1'7 mounted upon the wall 10.A spring 18 is attached upon the end of the cord 16 and the other end ofthe spring 18 is secured to the wall at 19. The spring 18 normallyserves to move the frame into a position in which the shutters areopened. Another cord 20 is attached upon the other side of the frame 15and extends around a large wheel 21 rotatively supported upon the wall10. A small wheel 22 is fixed upon the large wheel 21 and another cord23 is woundaround the small wheel 22 and extends over various pulleyssuch as 24 and 25 to a position towards the front of the tellers table26. A foot bar 2'! is attached upon the free end of the cord 23. Thisfoot bar is horizontally mounted in a pair of spaced standards 28. Theshutters 14 are locked in closed position by a pawl 21 which engagesnotch 21 in wheel 21. Ihe pawl may be opened by a knob 21 when it isdesired to open the shutters 14.

A cashiers tray is arranged upon one side of the table 26and comprises aplurality of tray sections 29 each pivotally mounted at 30 upon smallbrackets 31 secured on the inner sides of a chute 32. In all, four traysections 29 are shown though a larger or smaller quantity may be used.These tray sections are so arranged that the tray issubstantially squarethough any other form could be used as well. The outer edges of each ofthe tray sections 29 are provided with handles 33 by which the traysections may be selectively manually tilted to cause the discharge ofvaluables in the tray through the chute 32.

' The tray sections 29 are held in the horizontal position bycounterweight 29 although spring or any suitable locking device may alsobe used.

Another arrangement is provided for simultaneously tilting all of thetray sections. This arcords 34 each connected intermediate the pivotedpoints and the innerends of the tray sections and tied together andconnected with a single cord 35 which extends through an opening in thechute 32 to the exterior. The cords 34 are arranged upon the bottomfaces of the tray sections 29. When the cord 35 is drawn the traysections tilt to positions as for example illustrated in dot and dashlines in Fig. "I.

A cover is provided for the tray which may be used during the night timewhen the establishment is locked, or during the day, while the teller'is temporarily absent. This cover comprises a metallic plate 36 adaptedto extend completely over all of the tray sections and formed withopenings through which the handles 33 extend. Padlocks or other types oflocks may be engaged upon the handles 33 for holding the covering inplace. The cover prevents tilting of the tray sections.

The cord 35 is connected with a foot rod 37 mounted for vertical motionin a pair of standards 38. The foot rod 3'7 is in end alignment with thefoot rod 27. Each of these rods are selectively depressible. A footpedal 2'7 extends from the rod 2'7 for convenience to depress the footrod 2'7. A single tray 29 is shown in Fig. 12 hinged at 30' to the chuteat 32. The bolts 30 may be unlatched by pulling on the cord 35 which isconnected to the said bolt at the extremity 35'.

An arrangement is provided for depressing the foot rods 27 and 37simultaneously for causing the simultaneous closing of the shutters andthe discharge of the contents of the tray. This means comprises a footlever 39 pivotally mounted at its rear end 40 and extendingsimultaneously over the adjacent ends of the foot rods 27 and 37. Aspring 41 acts against the foot lever 39 and normally holds it in araised position. This foot lever may be manually depressed for movingboth of the rods 27 and 37 down simultaneously. A trigger means isprovided for moving the lever 39 when desired. This means consists of acord 42 attached upon the free end of an arm 44 pivotally mounted at oneend 45 and normally urged upwards by a coaxial spring 46 acting betweenthe arm 44 and a casing 47 housing the arm. The cord 42 passes through asmall opening 48 in the casing 4'?. A trigger 49 extends from an opening50 in the casing 47 and is pivotally mounted intermediately at 51 uponthe sides of the casing 47. The small end of this trigger acts againstthe top of the arm 44 maintaining it in a lowered position. The arm 44is provided with an opening 52 adapted to slip over the small end of thetrigger 49 when the trigger is depressed. Then the arm 44 may moveupwards under the action of the spring 46 and so draw the cord 42 fordepressing the lever 39.

I'he table 26 is provided with a plurality of drawers 53 arranged uponthe ends, out of a direct line with the wicket 11.

The shutters 14 on the wicket limit the sight from those outside to astraight line inwards. Thus if the teller is of the wicket he is out ofview and consequently out of firing range. Therefore the teller mayremove the contents from the drawers 53 without being in any danger fromfire arms, even while the shutters are open. A bullet proof screen 55 isarranged immediately behind the wicket 11 a short distance to the rearof the table 26. The bullet proof stationary screen is securely boltedto the floor and allows no more than just sufflcient room for the tellerbetween it and the table. Its purpose is to compel the teller toapproach or leave the wicket sideways and close to the table. so that hecan always quickly put his foot on the rod in an emergency. protects theteller when opposite the wicket at a distance therefrom, where he wouldotherwise be exposed to bullets.

A button 12 is provided outside the wicket for customers who require touse a buzzer to call the teller.

A shelf 56 is attached upon the outside of the wall and slidably holds adrawer 5'7 which may be moved through an opening in the wall 10 to theinterior, or vice versa. length so that it itself serves as a protectionfrom direct communication from the exterior to the interior. The drawer57 is arranged to slide in an opening 58 formed in the table 26. At thesides of this opening there are tracks 59 on which rollers 60 of drawer57 roll to ease the sliding of the said drawer. The top of the drawer'57 is flush with the table 26 and a hinged lid 53 completely covers theopening 59 when the drawer 57 is on the outer side of the wall or whileit is being moved. When money, passbook,

to one side or the other side This drawer is of some- Moreover, thescreen but stored elsewhere in a floor of the safe.

check or other valuables are deposited in drawer 57, it is shovedtowards the inside by a handle 57 and when the drawer is completelytransferred to the inner side, that is, to the tellers side, means isprovided for automatically-opening the lid 58.

The lid 58 is provided with a locking hook 75, hinged at '76 and forcedinto locking position by coil spring 77. This locking hook may be openedby an external handle 78 and then the lid 58 may be raised by the tellerto any desired height where it will be frictionally held by a detentspring '29 which is corrugated at 80 to frictionally engage one edge ofthe lid 58 wherever it is left in the raised position. The locking hookis lowered into an opening 81 in the table 26 and locks against aportion 82 of the table whenever the lid 58' covers the opening 59.

The means for automatically releasing the catch lock '75 consists of apin 83 projecting from a slide bar 84. The slide bar may be moved in agroove 85. One end of the slide bar is secured to the inner side of thedrawer 57 and the other end of the slide bar 84 is turned upward andterminates in a knob 86 to serve as an operating knob for the teller.The pin 83 is so positioned that when the drawer 57 is completely on thetellers side, it engages the lower extension 87 of locking hook 75, thusreleases the catch and allows plunger pins 88 to press against thebottom of hinged lid 58 due to the tension of compression springs 89.The force of plunger pins 88 throws the lid up against the lowercorrugations of detent spring 79 and holds the lid in partially openedposition where the teller may open it to any desired height.

The drawer 57 may then be shoved out by the teller by pushing theoperating knob 86 but only after the lid is again closed, to preventshooting through the drawer 5'7 from the outside.

It is to be understood that both the drawer 57 and the lid 58' are madeof metal of suficient thickness to prevent their being pierced by abullet and by this arrangement the teller is never exposed to danger.

The chute 32 extends to the floor 61 beneath and connects with a safe62. This safe is formed with a top opening 63 into which the chutedischarges. The safe 62 is provided with doors 64.- normally locked withtwo distinct keys. This arrangement allows one of the keys to be held bythe teller and the other key by some ofiicial of the bank so that bothof the keys are necessary for opening the same. The key held by theother oflicial should not be left on the premises,

secure place, inaccessible to outsiders. Thus if the teller is waylaidand his key stolen, this in itself will not be Sllfficient to rifle thesafe. An added precaution is to keep the safe in a double-locked vaultbeneath the tellers cage.

The safe is provided with a plurality of baffles 65 arranged at variousvertical elevations and inclined so as to act as chutes to directobjects down into a safe deposit box 66 located upon the The free endsof the chutes 65 are formed with serrations or teeth 6"! so as toprevent one from lowering a wire, string or other instrument through theopening 63 in the top of the safe and attempting to reach the valuableswithin the box 66. The chutes 65 are arranged on alternate sides of thesafe which adds to the difiiculty in reaching the box 66.

An arrangement is provided for normally hold- ;ing the opening 63 closedbut so designed that when any object passes through the chute 32 theopening 63 is clear to allow the passage of the objects. Moreparticularly a peg 63 is pivoted intermediately of its ends at the point76 on the under side of the top of the safe. A counterweight '71 isattached upon the lever 69 and normally urges the lever in a position inwhich the peg 68 closes the opening. The counterweight is of a size justsuflicient to pivot the lever 69 so that the peg 68 may readily bedisplaced from the opening to allow the passage of articles.

The safe may also be kept on the cashiers floor, under his table or inany distant place.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, which I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:-

l. A safety device for cashiers, comprising a wall with a cashierswicket arranged so that the public is to the front of the wall and thecashier to the rear, a shutter mechanism upon said wicket comprising aframe, a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted upon said frame andadapted to assume open positions in parallel vertical planes and to bemoved to slightly overlapping positions constituting the closedpositions of the shutters and means for closing the shutters comprisinga frame pivotally connected with the rear edges of the shutters formoving the shutters, resilient means connected with one side of theframe for moving the frame in one direction, a cord secured to the otherside of the frame and connected with a system terminating in adepressible rod for drawing the frame in the other direction to closethe shutter.

2. A safety device for cashiers, comprising a wall with a cashierswicket arranged so that the public is to the front of the wall and thecashier to the rear, and a shutter mechanism upon said wicket comprisinga frame, a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted upon said frame andadapted to assume open positions in parallel vertical planes and to bemoved to slightly overlapping positions constituting the closedpositions of the shutters, a means being provided for closing theshutters comprising a frame pivotally connected with the rear edges ofthe shutters and arranged for moving the shutters, comprising a cordsecured upon one side of the frame and connected with a spring fornormally urging the frame into a position in which the shutters areopen, and another cord secured upon the other side of the frame andconnected with a system terminating in a depressible rod for drawing theframe to close the shutters.

3. A safety device for cashiers, comprising a Wall with a cashierswicket arranged so that the public is to the front of the wall and thecashier to the rear, and a shutter mechanism upon said wicket comprisinga frame, a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted upon said frame andadapted to assume open positions in parallel vertical planes and to bemoved to slightly overlapping positions constituting the closedpositions of the shutters, a means being provided for closing theshutters comprising a frame pivotally connected with the rear edges ofthe shutters and arranged for moving the shutters, comprising a cordsecured upon one side of the frame and connected with aspring fornormally urging the frame into a position in which the shutters areopen, and another cord secured frame and connected with a systemterminating in a depressible rod for drawing the frame to close theshutters, said system including a large wheel upon the other side of thesecured to a small wheel, the cord from the frame extending over saidlarge wheel and another cord extending over said small wheel soas togive a mechanical advantage and cause the rapid closing of theshuttersupon depression of said rod.

LOUIS E. KOTHE.

